Heater Help + Forum Help

[Ianb262]

Sorry for all the new posts, I want my tank to work well . How can I delete my older posts?
Also, I have water and sand in my tank now and I just set up my heater. I am trying to get it around 78 - 80 degrees but it either goes too high or too low. Is it just a trial and error thing? My heater has no marks on it for temp.

Thanks again

[eieio]

Sorry for all the new posts, I want my tank to work well . How can I delete my older posts?
Also, I have water and sand in my tank now and I just set up my heater. I am trying to get it around 78 - 80 degrees but it either goes too high or too low. Is it just a trial and error thing? My heater has no marks on it for temp.

Thanks again

new heater?
old heater?
what kind of heater?

[Ianb262]

So Sorry .
It's a new heater and it's 200 watts. Made by Top Fin.

[eieio]

So Sorry .
It's a new heater and it's 200 watts. Made by Top Fin.

what model TopFin is it?
did it come with instructions?
if it has no temp marks, set it in the middle of the adjustment range and carefully monitor it with an ACCURATE aquarium thermometer
turn up or down as necessary, and continue to monitor
do you have a filter to adequately circulate the water in the tank, so that the water does not have a "hot spot" in the area around the heater (or a "cold spot" around the thermometer)?
I just read a lot of unfavorable comments about TopFin heaters
if you can't get it to cooperate, I'd recommend an EHEIM-Jager heater
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=23726
they are very reliable & accurate, and the only heaters I will have in my tanks

[Ianb262]

Turns out the instructions for the heater had one more panel that didn't fold out lol. There is a pre-marked stud to make the heater 78f

Thanks for the help though!

[Blinkey]

IME heaters are hit or miss, even the Eheim jagers. Out of the last 4 I have owned, only one is accurate at stock settings within 1 deg C. I also had rare success using the calibration feature. I must admit though, they are quite reliable once you have them set at your desired temp. Found that simply adjusting the old-fashioned way was more time-effective. Not sure about top-fin as I can't get those here. Hope it is working for you now.

[Welch4]

I got with jagers always. Recent I have been diy plumbing them inline, increases their efficiency. But yes get a good digital thermometer and dial it in.